Verizon offers free tethering because it has to

That court ruling is months old, and it doesn't apply to their old unlimited data plans, which makes it basically pointless since their new shared data plans include tethering anyway.

Also with their new capped data plans (marketed as shared data) offering tethering for free is a boon to their bottom line.

At $10 a pop per additional gig over your plan, as well millions and millions totally clueless about what a gigabyte is ... Verizon and AT&T are going to be fattening their profits nicely!